New Deal Design, one of the world's leading tech design studios, has invented an artificial intelligence-equipped toy to fight the "distraction economy" by developing children's attention spans.
Called Spot, the toy is aimed at learning and discovery. It functions primarily as a handheld scanner that kids can point at an object around them, such as a flower or a bird, to hear it talk back.Using its AI software,Spot recognizes the object and voices a little monologue（独白）from it, processing information to suit children aged five to nine.
There's also a secondary function that comes into play at bedtime, when Spot uses its in-built projecto（r投影仪） to present a story made up around the day's discoveries.
Spot is a concept at this stage, one that grew out of the research New Deal Design conducted into children's development. The designers found that the right kind of toy could encourage focus,as opposed to instant satisfaction. They wanted to cultivate a kind of junior-level mindfulness that would set kids up with positive life skills.
In terms of appearance, Spot has a complicated look, with its 3D camera fixed in the head. The models are smooth, including a wooden handle,a button and a base. The choice of materials was inspired by traditional kids' building blocks.
When Spot recognizes an object, it blinks to signal it has locked the target. Its head also locks into place to avoid any shaking. As an example, New Deal Design describes a girl called Max, who among other things, encounters a robin while out with the toy. Via Spot, the bird says, "Hi Max, my name is Robin! Did you know ..."
At that night's Story Time, Spot starts "Once upon a time there was a little girl named Max who met a robin. One day, Max asked the robin ..." New Deal Design says that day summaries like this helps kids to relax and get better sleep. Seeing themselves at the centre of stories also helps to build self-confidence and self-awareness.
1. In which aspect do children benefit from the artificial intelligence-equipped toy?| A．encouraging focus | B．giving an instant satisfaction |
| C．learning self-control | D．developing positive life skills |
| A．Spot tells stories programmed in advance. |
| B．Spot is beneficial to developing children’s attention spans. |
| C．Spot has already been used to fight the “distraction economy” now. |
| D．Spot’s appearance was inspired by traditional kids’ building blocks. |
| A．Tom, two years old, can’t recognize an object around him. |
| B．Max, eight years old, wants to make up a story about robin. |
| C．Tina, nine years old, can’t concentrate her attention on her class. |
| D．Mike,twelve years old, wants to learn something about artificial intelligence. |
| A．A scientific invention | B．A learning program |
| C．An creative method | D．A tech design studios |
相似题推荐
【推荐1】A team of researchers at MET and in China has come up with a solution to the problem of salt accumulation. The process could also be used to treat waste water or to produce steam for cleaning medical instruments, all without requiring any power source other than sunlight itself.
The findings are described in the journal Nature Communications published on February 14, 2022, by MIT students Lenan Zhang, Xiangyu Li, Professor Evelyn Wang, and four others.
“There have been a lot of solar-based designs of various systems,” Wang says. “The challenge has been the salt fouling issue, which people haven’t really solved. Over time, things will get worse without a desalination(脱盐) system.”
Li says that the advantages of this system are “both the high performance and the reliable operation, especially under extreme conditions. And that means it’s also very useful for waste water treatment” He adds that much work on such solar-powered desalination has focused on new materials. “But in our case, we use really low-cost, almost household materials. ” The key was analyzing and understanding a special flow that drives this entirely passive system, he says. ” People say you always need new materials, expensive ones, or complex structures to do that. And this is, I believe, the first one that does this without complex structures.”
Just as hot air rises and cold air falls, Zhang explains, such movement of water drives the desalination process in this system. Because of the salt, the density(密度) of water at the very top is higher, and the bottom water has lower density. So, this is an original driving force for such movement of water because the higher density at the top drives the salty liquid to go down. The water evaporated(蒸发) from the top of the system can then be collected on a special surface, providing pure fresh water.
So far, the team has proved the approach to be workable, with no signs of any salt accumulation, so the next step will surely witness systems that could have practical applications.
1. What powers the system to solve the problem of salt accumulation?| A．Steam. | B．Electricity. | C．Sunlight. | D．Salt. |
| A．Gathering. | B．Melting. | C．Processing. | D．Polluting. |
| A．Solar-powered systems can’t work without complex structures. |
| B．The things they used for the system are cheap and easy to find. |
| C．New materials are necessary in the entirely passive system. |
| D．The system is better than others under extreme conditions. |
| A．Why the system can provide fresh water. |
| B．What the driving force of the system is. |
| C．What role air plays in the system. |
| D．How the system works. |
【推荐2】Cool Colour
The “blackest black” paint, famed for its thermal disguise potential, has long absorbed 99.9 percent of public attention.
This coating absorbs just 1.9 percent of sunlight compared with 10 to 20 percent for conventional white or “heat-reflective” paints, says Xiulin Ruan, a Purdue University mechanical engineer. By reflecting so efficiently, the novel paint can actually help a coated building release the heat inside.
Scientists have been developing reflective paints for decades, but commercial products still remain at or above the surrounding temperature. In the past 10 years researchers have found greater success with multilayered coating to reflect many wave-lengths of light.
Thus, Ruan decided to take a hybrid approach and create an ordinary paint that could easily be brushed or sprayed onto a surface. After testing particles of several different compounds, he and his colleagues ultimately selected a relatively inexpensive one called barium sulfate.
Actually, there is plenty of competition from other researchers.
| A．Besides, some scientists note that any new product like this will need to stand up to the real world, where dirt coats surfaces over time. |
| B．It is calculated that covering a 1, 000-square-foot roof with this new paint could cool a building by about 10 kilowatts. |
| C．The price of barium sulfate is comparable to, or even slightly more expensive than, titanium dioxide that is used in some other commercial paints. |
| D．Now it’s time to shed some light on the other end of the practical paint spectrum: the “whitest white.” |
| E．That is to say, this new paint can be a tool to fight the climate emergency by cutting carbon emissions. |
| F．Unfortunately, manufacturing precise layers of multiple substances and applying them to a surface in a set order costs more than simply slapping on some paint. |
【推荐3】It’s been more than 60 years since Jane Goodall started her pioneering work. In 1960, she was chosen to go to what is now Tanzania and study the little-known world of chimpanzees. Since then, Goodall has received many awards and honorary degrees as a world-famous conservationist (自然环境保护主义者). Now, Goodall has received an unusual honor. She is becoming a toy — a Barbie doll.
Goodall may not have expected to become a Barbie at 88 years old — but it’s not just any doll, it’s made out of recycled plastic. And Barbie is partnering with the Jane Goodall Foundation and its Roots & Shoots program which inspires young people to protect animals and the environment.
“You know, the main message is that every day you live, you make an influence on the planet and you get to choose what sort of influence you make,” Goodall said.
“There was a little boy of 7 in Burundi, and I had given a talk to the school and he came up to me and said, ‘If I pick out a piece of trash every day, it will make a difference, won’t it?’ And I said, ‘Yes it will. And suppose you persuade (劝说) 10 of your friends to pick up a piece of rubbish every day.’ He said, ‘Oh, that would really make a difference and then they could all get 10 of their friends, couldn’t they?’ Goodall said, “So, that’s it. The cumulative (积累的) effect of small actions can lead to big change.”
She’s been inspiring young people for decades, but now, newer generations will get to know Jane Goodall. “I sincerely hope that it will help to create more interest in the natural world,” she said about the Barbie. “Because hopefully, you know, they’ll learn more about me through the doll. And that will get them interested. It doesn’t really matter if they have a career in conservation, as long as they pay attention to conservation in their daily lives.”
1. What is the intention of Barbie’s making a doll of Jane Goodall?| A．To give Jane Goodall a surprise. |
| B．To test the quality of recycled plastic. |
| C．To encourage environmental protection. |
| D．To start a cooperative research program. |
| A．Everyone can make an impact on the planet. |
| B．Children will make the future world a better place. |
| C．Every child should pick up a piece of rubbish every day. |
| D．The accumulation of tiny actions makes a great difference. |
| A．Critical. | B．Supportive. |
| C．Disapproving. | D．Doubtful. |
| A．Jane Goodall’s Good Expectation of Nature Conservation |
| B．Young People’s Strong Interest in Nature Conservation |
| C．Great Popularity of a New Barbie Doll of Jane Goodall |
| D．Inspire Newer Generations to Care About Conservation Through a Doll |
【推荐1】Vitamins are meant to improve people’s immune system, and with the spread of SARS many Chinese are taking vitamins A, C and E every day.
But some US researchers say that vitamin supplements can’t correct a poor diet, and that multivitamins have not been shown to prevent any diseases. It is also easy for high doses of certain vitamins and minerals to actually increase the risk of disease.
Experts say that they are no longer concerned about vitamins deficiencies. Those are almost unheard of today, even with the population eating fewer fruits and vegetables. Instead, the concern is with the dangers of vitamin excess (过量).
Dr. Benjamin Caballero, a member of the Food and Nutrition Board at the US National Academy of Sciences, said that for some supplements, including vitamin A, the difference between the normal dose from a healthy diet and the recommended dose that could lead to disease like osteoporosis (bone disease) was not large. Popular multivitamins, he added, often contain what could be risky dose.
Similar questions are being raised about other vitamins and minerals, particularly iron and vitamins E and C.
Researchers say the questions involve multivitamins taken by healthy people, not specific vitamins or minerals taken by groups with special needs.
Some elderly people, for example, may lack B12 because they lose their ability to absorb it from foods.
People who spend little time outdoors may require vitamin D, which the skin makes when it is exposed to sunlight. Even when older people are in the sun, aging skin loses much of its ability to create the vitamins.
“If you eat junk food every day, vitamins are the least of your problems.” said Dr Caballero. “You can’t replace a healthy diet. People are looking for the magic bullet which doesn’t exist.”
1. From the second paragraph, we can find that _________.| A．parents should prevent their children from taking vitamins |
| B．doctors shouldn’t use any vitamins on their patients |
| C．vitamins only increase the risk of disease |
| D．vitamins should be taken with care |
| A．People usually have unhealthy diet. | B．People usually lead a hard life. |
| C．People seldom lack vitamins. | D．People seldom suffer from disease. |
| A．is dangerous for people to take | B．is very useful to bone disease |
| C．should be taken carefully | D．should be taken by a large amount |
| A．have junk food every day |
| B．have a healthy diet every day |
| C．try to find the magic vitamins |
| D．take some vitamins every day |
【推荐2】The jack fruit is a delicious fruit found throughout certain parts of Asia. But there is more to the fruit than just its taste. When considering the fruit’s English name, it is easy to become overwhelmed with questions like: “Who is Jack? And why does he have his own fruit?”
Surprisingly, “jack fruit” isn’t a person’s name at all. The fruit’s name originally comes from the southern Indian word chakka pazham, with India thought to be the fruit’s place of origin. Portuguese explorers who journeyed to this region went on to call it jack, which leads us to the current English name of jack fruit, according to National Public Radio(NPR). Unfortunately, no one called Jack has been proven to be involved at any point in this process.
There is another food, however, that was directly named after a person—the sandwich. In the 18th century, playing card games late into the night became fashionable in British high society. John Montagu, the 4th Earl of Sandwich, started the habit of ordering pieces of cold beef between two pieces of bread in order to get a late-night snack without having to leave the gaming table or use a knife and fork.
This newly-created snack kept hands clean so card players could continue on without dirtying their cards. The midnight snack quickly became popular among everyday people, and before long everyone was making their own sandwiches. That is how the sandwich was invented and got its name.
Away from the world of food, there are more examples of names inspired by people. Long johns, the warm trousers that keep us warm in winter, are said to have been named after the US boxer John L. Sullivan who took to wearing a similar type of garment in the ring (比赛).
There are many other interesting etymologies(词源) in the English language like these. So the next time you find an interesting name, why not explore its history too?
1. What does the underlined word “overwhelmed” in the first paragraph probably mean?| A．Puzzled. | B．Excited. | C．Worried. | D．Annoyed. |
| A．A place in India. | B．An Indian word. |
| C．A Portuguese explorer. | D．A discoverer of the fruit. |
| A．It was named after a popular card game. |
| B．It was once eaten as a snack in the daytime. |
| C．It was first popular among the UK’s middle class. |
| D．It was created for the convenience of playing cards. |
| A．To raise readers’ interest in etymology. | B．To introduce things named after people. |
| C．To stress the importance of learning history. | D．To explain the effects of people’s names on food. |
【推荐3】In 1970s, a psychologist named J. P. Guilford conducted a famous study of creativity known as the nine-dot puzzle (九点谜题). He challenged research subjects to connect all nine dots using just four straight lines without lifting their pencils from the page. All the participants limited the possible solutions to those within the imaginary square. Only 20 percent managed to break out of the confinement (束缚) and continue their lines in the white space surrounding the dots.
The fact that 80 percent of the participants were effectively blinded by the boundaries of the square led Guilford to jump to the sweeping conclusion that creativity requires you to go outside the box. The idea went viral. Overnight, it seemed that creativity experts everywhere were teaching managers how to think outside the box. The concept enjoyed such strong popularity that no one bothered to check the facts. No one, that is, before two different research teams-Clarke Burnham with Kenneth Davis, and Joseph Alba with Robert Weisberg-ran another experiment.
Both teams followed the same way of dividing participants into two groups. The first group was given the same instructions as the participants in Guilford’s experiment. The second group was told that the solution required the lines to be drawn outside the imaginary box. Guess what? Only 25 percent solved the puzzle. In statistical terms, this 5 percent improvement is insignificant as this could be called sampling error.
Let’s look a little more closely at the surprising result. Solving this problem requires people to literally think outside the box. Yet participants’ performance was not improved even when they were given specific instructions to do so. That is, direct and clear instructions to think outside the box did not help. That this advice is useless should effectively have killed off the much widely spread — and therefore, much more dangerous — metaphor (比喻) that out-of-the-box thinking boosts creativity. After all, with one simple yet brilliant experiment, researchers had proven that the conceptual link between thinking outside the box and creativity was a misunderstanding.
1. What did the nine-dot puzzle study focus on?| A．Visual perception. |
| B．Thinking patterns. |
| C．Practical experience. |
| D．Theoretical knowledge. |
| A．To test the catchy concept. |
| B．To contradict the initial idea. |
| C．To collect supporting evidence |
| D．To identify the underlying logic. |
| A．Groundless. | B．Inspiring. | C．Fruitless. | D．Revealing. |
| A．Puzzle Solving: A Key To Creativity |
| B．Thinking Outside the Box: A Misguided Idea |
| C．Nine-Dot Puzzle: A Magic Test |
| D．Creative Thinking: We Fell For The Trap |
【推荐1】One of the most important things that has happened to me occurred long before I was aware of it. As the story goes, I was three days old and Mom was singing “The Name Game” song to me: “Christine Bo-Bean-Banana-Fanna-Fo-Feen.” By day four, I was given a new name ---- Christine-Bo-Bean, or just Bo-Bee to my mother. Now, I am Bo to her and close friends.
Why is this nickname（昵称）so important to me? I once read a book with a passage about True Names which explains that when a person’s true name is spoken, she has a distinct aura（光环）around her. Although I have been Bo to my mother all my life, I recently discovered that my true name is not on my birth certificate; it’s the name that is as unique and memorable as I am.
People usually know me as Christine. They still see me as a quiet, bookish child. They don’t know who I am now. My most recent hopes, fears, goals, dreams and opinions escape their notice; it is easier to think of me as I was. In their minds, they have a box labeled “Christine” in which I fit neatly, and as Christine, I was content with the perfect packaging.
Those who call me Bo or Bo-Bee really know me. They remember who I was and realize I have changed. Bo is a tight squeeze in the old “Christine” boxes. The Bo I am is ever-changing, ever-growing and ever-learning.
When I was Christine, I was quiet, and easily scared. I feared groups, meeting new people and sharing my opinions. I was more comfortable with a book than my best friend. As Christine, I thought everyone was better than I was.
As Bo, I still love my books, but I want to discuss them. As Bo, my dream is to live where I can experience new things and meet new people. I dream about being alone on a stage lit by a single spotlight; I have that confidence now. I am equal to those I once saw as better than me.
A name shouldn’t make such a difference, but sometimes, when a person finds his or her True Name, they develop a new shine visible to friends, family and especially themselves.
I can’t always be Bo. Sometimes exposing myself is still scary and I feel too nervous; I want to hide in those old boxes. Mostly, however, I am ready for the world. So, just call me Bo.
1. When was the author given a nickname?| A．When her Mom sang the song. | B．On the fourth day after she was born. |
| C．Seven days after she was born. | D．When she received the old “Christine” box. |
| A．The author has to live in the old boxes. |
| B．The old boxes are not fit for the author any longer. |
| C．They don’t know the author has changed her name. |
| D．People usually know the author as Christine but she has changed. |
| A．She lacked confidence and preferred to be alone. |
| B．She took pleasure in finding new things. |
| C．She loved reading and sharing books with friends. |
| D．She showed no interest in reading. |
| A．A Unique Name | B．My True Name |
| C．Learning from Names | D．Meaning of Nicknames |
【推荐2】Vegetable gardens may not be as visually pleasing as the variety of flowers, but Floridians looking to save some green by growing their own salad fixings can soon do so without fear. Gov. Ron DeSantis this week signed a law that bans local governments from carrying orders against homeowners from raising veggies in their yards.
The law, which takes effect July 1, puts an end to that particular power of towns and cities across the state to prohibit vegetable gardens for “aesthetic（审美的）purposes”.
The issue became a cause after a couple living in Miami Shores Village opposed the decision of a $ 50 a day fine for growing vegetables in their front yard, as they’d done for years.
Hermine Ricketts and her husband Tom Carroll fought City Hall in a case that wound its way up the state’s court system, with judges consistently ruling against their money-saving and health-conscious project.
After the Florida Supreme Court ruled in favor of Miami Shores’ right to control design and landscaping standards, the couple replaced their vegetables with pink flamingos (红鹳花) .
Their cause was not lost, however. State lawmakers proposed and passed a law that effectively voids the court rulings, with Rob Bradley, who sponsored the bill, reportedly calling the village’s action a “vast overreach”.
The lawmaker noted the difficulty that many families experience getting fresh and affordable food, calling bans against vegetable and fruit gardens ridiculous.
About a third of all households in the U. S. grow some of their own food, according to the National Gardening Association. The group says a 600-square-foot garden that costs around $ 70 a year to keep can grow 300 pounds of fresh produce worth about $ 600 annually.
1. Why will some Floridians plant salad fixings?| A．To protect the environment. | B．To beautify their home. |
| C．To build their own gardens. | D．To cut daily expenses. |
| A．They started a public health-conscious campaign. |
| B．They never gave in to the Miami Shores’ demand. |
| C．They paid a $50 daily fine to Miami Shores Village. |
| D．They were not backed by the Florida Supreme Court. |
| A．It’s sensible. | B．It’s ridiculous. |
| C．It’s ambitious. | D．It’s costly. |
【推荐3】For more than 2,000 years the Chinese people have been guided by the ideals of Confucianism. Its founder and greatest teacher was Confucius, whose humane philosophy also influenced the civilization of all of eastern Asia. Many legends were spread to illustrate Confucius’ beliefs. According to one story, he and his followers passed a cemetery where a woman was weeping at a graveside. She told them she was crying because “my husband’s father was killed here by a tiger, and my husband also, and now my son has met the same fate”. When they asked her why she did not leave such a fatal spot, she answered that in this place there was no oppressive government. “Remember this, my children,” said Confucius, “oppressive government is fiercer and more feared than a tiger”.
In such teaching and with such wise sayings, Confucius tried to bring people a respect for the teachings of the wise men of older generations. He always said of himself that he was a “transmitter, not a maker”. He collected and edited the poetry, the music, and the historical writings of what he considered the golden age.
Confucius laid no claim to being more than a man. Yet when he died he was admired almost as god. Temples were constructed in his honor in every city of China. His grave at Kufow, in what is now Shandong Province, became a place of pilgrimage.
Though Confucianism is commonly called a religion, it is rather a system of moral conduct. Confucius did not talk of God but of goodness. He did not teach about any god, simply saying, “Respect the gods, but have as little to do with them as possible.” His attention was centered on making people better in their lifetime, and his Analects are wise sayings similar to the Proverbs in the Bible.
Confucius is the Latinized form of the philosopher’s Chinese name, which was K’ung-fu-tzu, meaning Master K’ung. He was born in a poor but noble family. His father died when the boy was 3 years old. When he was only 6, people noted his fondness for setting out sacrifices and for ceremony. After his marriage at age 19, he worked for the governor of his district, first a keeper of stores and then as an overseer of parks and livestock. At the age of 22 he began his life as a teacher by establishing a school. He accepted valuable aid from some of his students, but he also welcomed students who could afford to pay only a small fee.
After some years of teaching and travel, he settled in Shandong for 15 years. When he was 52 years old, he was rewarded with an appointment as governor of a province and never failed to win the credit he deserved. He performed his task so well that a neighboring governor became jealous. Later, Confucius traveled around other kingdoms and wandered about for 13 years. Eventually, he returned to his native state of Lu in his 69th year and died three years later.
1. The story of the woman in Para.1 is mentioned to show____.| A．Confucius was creative and sympathetic |
| B．the government then was fiercer than a tiger |
| C．Confucius’ beliefs are very popular |
| D．Confucius often wanted to influence people |
| A．was tired of spreading his teachings in his late year. |
| B．was not interested in reforming the society |
| C．did not want people to worship him as god |
| D．showed great disrespect for the noble families |
| A．Confucianism is different from common religion. |
| B．God blesses those who show respect and goodness. |
| C．People are advised to keep a distance from gods. |
| D．Confucius highlights the importance of virtue. |
| A．was highly successful |
| B．turned out to be a surprise |
| C．was bound to fail because of his belief |
| D．was not so important as his teaching life |
| A．objective spirit | B．deep admiration |
| C．great openness | D．obvious surprise |
【推荐1】Jenny was a bright-eyed, pretty five-year-old girl. One day when she and her mother were checking out at the grocery store, Jenny saw a plastic pearl necklace priced at $2.50. How she wanted that necklace! When she asked her mother if she would buy it for her, her mother said, “Well, it is a pretty necklace, but it costs an awful lot of money. I’ll tell you what. I’ll buy you the necklace, and when we get home we can make up a list of housework that you can do to pay for the necklace. And don’t forget that for your birthday, Grandma just might give you a whole dollar bill, too. Okay?” Jenny agreed, and her mother bought the pearl necklace for her.
Jenny worked on her housework very hard every day, and sure enough, her grandma gave her a brand-new dollar bill for her birthday. Soon Jenny had paid off the pearls. How Jenny loved those pearls. She wore them everywhere to kindergarten, bed and when she went out with her mother to run errands (跑腿). The only time she didn’t wear them was in the shower. Her mother had told her that they would turn her neck green!
Jenny had a very loving daddy. When Jenny went to bed, he would get up from his favorite chair every night and read Jenny her favorite story.
One night when he finished the story, he said, “Jenny, do you love me?”
“Oh yes, Daddy, you know I love you,” the little girl said.
“Well, then, give me your pearls.”
“Oh! Daddy, not my pearls!” Jenny said. “But you can have Rosy, my favorite doll. Remember her? You gave her to me last year for my birthday. And you can have her tea party outfit, too. Okay?”
“Oh no, darling, that’s okay.” Her father brushed her cheek with a kiss. “Good night, little one.”
A week later, her father once again asked Jenny after her story.
“Do you love me?”
“Oh yes, Daddy, you know I love you.”
“Well, then, give me your pearls.”
“Oh, Daddy, not my pearls! But you can have Ribbons, my toy horse. Do you remember her? She’s my favorite. Her hair is so soft, and you can play with it and braid it and everything. You can have Ribbons if you want her, Daddy,” the little girl said to her father.
“No, that’s okay,” her father said and brushed her cheek again with a kiss. “God bless you, little one. Sweet dreams.”
Several days later, when Jenny’s father came in to read her a story, Jenny was sitting on her bed and her lip was trembling. “Here, Daddy,” she said, and held out her hand. She opened it and her beloved pearl necklace was inside. She let it slip into her father’s hand.
With one hand her father held the plastic pearls and the other he pulled out of his pocket a blue velvet box. Inside of the box were real, genuine, beautiful pearls. He had had them all along. He was waiting for Jenny to give up the cheap stuff so that he could give her the real thing.
1. Why did the mother tell Jenny the plastic pearl necklace “cost an awful lot of money”?| A．She was discouraging Jenny from buying it. |
| B．She was telling Jenny to ask her grandma for help. |
| C．She was reminding Jenny of its true value. |
| D．She was encouraging Jenny to get it by her hard work. |
| A．She promised to work on the housework hard. |
| B．She was lucky to have her birthday coming near. |
| C．She went out with her mother to run errands. |
| D．She got supported from her grandma with a dollar bill. |
| A．She was disappointed that her father always asked for her necklace. |
| B．She was pleased to give the necklace to her father. |
| C．She was struggling in her mind about the decision to make. |
| D．She was unwilling to exchange her necklace for the real one. |
| A．The Real Pearl Necklace | B．The Parental Hidden Love |
| C．The Decision of Honesty | D．The Choice of Luck |
【推荐2】Pacific Science Center Guide
◆Visit Pacific Science Center’s Store
Don’t forget to stop by Pacific Science Center’s Store while you are here to pick up a wonderful science activity or souvenir to remember your visit. The store is located (位于) upstairs in Building 3 right next to the Laser Dome.
◆Hungry?
Our exhibits will feed your mind, but what about your body? Our café offers a complete menu of lunch and snack options, in addition to seasonal specials. The café is located upstairs in Building 1 and is open daily until one hour Pacific Science Center closes.
◆Rental Information
Lockers are available to store any belongs during your visit. The lockers are located in Building 1 near the Information Desk and in Building 3. Pushchairs and wheelchairs are available to rent at the Information Desk and Denny Way entrance. ID required.
◆Support Pacific Science Center
Since 1962, Pacific Science Center has been inspiring a passion (热情) for discovery and lifelong learning in science, math and technology. Today, Pacific Science Center serves more than 1.3 million people a year and brings inquiry-based science education to classrooms and community events all over Washington State. It’s an amazing accomplishment and one we cannot achieve without generous support from individuals, corporations, and other social organizations. Visit pacificsciencecenter. org to find various ways you can support Pacific Science Center.
1. Where can you buy a souvenir at Pacific Science Center?| A．In Building 3. | B．In Building l. |
| C．At the Laser Dome. | D．At the Denny Way entrance. |
| A．You can have lunch there. | B．The exhibits there will feed your mind. |
| C．There is no place to store your belongs. | D．Pushchairs and wheelchairs are available to rent. |
| A．To tell about the Center’s history. | B．To advertise coming events. |
| C．To introduce special exhibits. | D．To encourage donations. |
【推荐3】An era in which an Alzheimer’s diagnosis can begin in a doctor’s office is now arriving. Advances in technologies to detect early signs of disease from a blood sample are helping doctors to identify the memory-robbing disorder more accurately and to screen participants more quickly for trials of potential treatments for the more than five million people in the U.S. afflicted with Alzheimer’s. Estimates predict that, by 2030, there will be 76 million people worldwide who will receive a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s or other dementias.
Last fall, a blood test developed by C2N Diagnostics in St. Louis, Mo., became available to most of the U.S. as a routine lab test—regulated under the CMS Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) program. It has also received a CE mark as a diagnostic medical device in the European Union—indicating it has met safety, health and environmental protection standards for the region.
“The development of a blood-based test for Alzheimer’s disease is just amazing,” says Michelle Mielke, a neuroscientist and epidemiologist at the Mayo Clinic. “The field has been thinking about this for a very long time. It’s really been in the last couple of years that the possibility has come to fruition.”
The C2N test, called PrecivityAD, uses an analytic technique known as mass spectrometry to detect specific types of beta-amyloid(ß-淀粉样蛋白), a protein fragment that is a pathological-hallmark of disease. Beta-amyloid proteins accumulate and form plaques visible on brain scans two decades before a patient notices memory problems. As plaques build up in the brain, levels of beta-amyloid decline in the surrounding fluid.
Such changes can be measured in spinal fluid samples—and now in blood, where beta-amyloid concentrations are significantly lower. PrecivityAD is the first blood test for Alzheimer’s to be cleared for widespread use and one of a new generation of such assays that could enable early detection of the leading neurodegenerative disease—perhaps decades before the onset of the first symptoms.
1. What can we know about Alzheimer’s diagnosis from the text?| A．It has been used widely by doctors. | B．It may have a brilliant market. |
| C．It cannot be used in the future | D．It is hard for doctors to accept. |
| A．It is difficult to be applied in the future. | B．Its development to the disease is remarkable. |
| C．It has been approved by EU. | D．It has achieved the goal of testing recently. |
| A．Decrease in plaques of the brain | B．Vanishment of a protein fragment. |
| C．Reduction in the levels of beta-amyloid. | D．Plaques visible on brain scans. |
| A．A creative test for detecting Alzheimer’s. | B．Research on the test about detecting Alzheimer’s. |
| C．Development of the C2N test. | D．The development of a blood-based test. |
